Calling all glow plugger's .... come out again!

[shoosty]

See my post in the General Forum regarding my stolen Delica....
But to make things simple, I seem to have no glow plugs engaging due to an ignition that was hacked up with a screwdriver. I am thinking that this awful way of starting my van without the key has somehow burnt them out......

- Could this even happen or do glow plugs only stay on for a moment when the click is heard?
- Could the ECU have been damaged based on the ignition dilemma?
- Of course I am going to have to change out the ignition/key mechanism now but otherwise where should I start?

[mararmeisto]

Copied my post in your screwdriver thread into this thread:

It sounds like the ignition switch is FUBAR to the point that the 'ON' setting is always selected. What this means is the ECU has already timed-out the glow plug cycle (after 3 minutes, the glow plug controller stops cycling the glow plugs).

There is an initial glowing of the plugs: 4-8 seconds.

After starting, depending on temperature, there is a cycling of the glow plugs in order to assist warming the cylinder such that the combustion cycle will run on its own without any help. This is the rapid clicking some hear when the vehicle is cold, in the dead-of-winter.

After 180 seconds, the ECU stops cycling the glow plugs.

The other thing it COULD be is the temperature sensor is broken such that the ECU always thinks the engine is warm, but if your glow plugs were 'clicking' before, I doubt this is the issue now. It was the ignition switch which was screwed with the driver, probably not the temperature sensor.

Try changing out the iginition switch - even in these old vans, there is an awful lot going on in there. Lots of stuff controlled by that little device.

[loki]

See my post in the General Forum regarding my stolen Delica....
But to make things simple, I seem to have no glow plugs engaging due to an ignition that was hacked up with a screwdriver. I am thinking that this awful way of starting my van without the key has somehow burnt them out......

- Could this even happen or do glow plugs only stay on for a moment when the click is heard?
- Could the ECU have been damaged based on the ignition dilemma?
- Of course I am going to have to change out the ignition/key mechanism now but otherwise where should I start?

I think you should replace the ignition parts that where damaged then see where you are, I would think that all your problems are there. you have to fix that anyways, no point in assuming something else is broken too, I also think it would be less than likely that the ecu or the glow plugs where damaged but I'm not a mechanic.

[shoosty]

Will no doubt get going with just the things that have been wrecked and thanks marameisto...... having the ECU being timed out due to a fubar ignition sounds very probable....but I did notice something else just now.

The ignition/key mechanism is composed of two parts......the main piece which mates with your own key (mine is now very damaged) is made of metal and should be an adventure getting this removed. The second piece is on the back of this main unit and it looks to be the real electric solenoid that combines all the wires and takes them off down and away. This piece I easily removed with the small gold screw and it looks ok.

The interesting thing also I have spotted is just below where the key goes in......it is a small fuse/relay plastic piece held in with two more little gold screws. A black wire going out the back of this thing eventually joins all the wires on the main ignition (2nd piece). What could this be?

Well I will get at this in the days ahead.......

Thanks again,

M. Basso

[mararmeisto]

Probably not a 'fuse' - sounds more like it might be the light to illuminate the switch ring. Does/did your ignition switch 'light up' when you opened the door? Very few of these vans seemed to have that option, but I suspect that it what you are looking at.

As you described it, the ignition switch is comprised of two pieces: a tumbler assembly which accepts the key (or screwdriver in your case); and a rotary switch which routes the electrical signals from the van, through the ignition set, and back into the van. It's this second part which does all the 'magic' routing the power output of the battery, through the switch and back to the starter motor (amongst other places).

What the "drunken punks" have done is simply over-power the tumbler so it would turn, wrecking not only the locking mechanism, but it sounds like they've mucked up the second half as well (because it sounds like your van is always in the 'ON' position).

[shoosty]

OK so I put the screw driver back in the ignition and this time turned back.....now the ignition no longer seems to be in the 'ON' position. Now everything is off and fine, however still no glow plugs engaging. Long day and I am out ......but thank you for all the good ideas. Insurance might be taking over from here.....